Heraeus is a globally active precious metal and technology Group based in Hanau, near Frankfurt, and with deep roots in Germany. The company has been family-owned for 160 years. Our business groups cover precious metals, materials and technologies, sensors, biomaterials, medical, dental, and pharmaceutical products, quartz glass, and specialty light sources.Currently Heraeus holds more than 5,500 patents. Over 350 R&D employees in 25 development centers around the world are producing the innovations that are the hallmark of our company. In 2010, on the strength of more than 12,900 employees in more than 120 companies, Heraeus generated product revenues of €4.1 billion and precious metals trading revenue of €17.9 billion.